The Great Speckled Bird and Atlanta Counterculture in the
Vietnam War Era Open Access

Williams, Catherine Margaret
(2012)

Abstract

Abstract

The Great Speckled
Bird, an Atlanta-based publication that ran from 1968
to 1976, embodied the spirit of the city's Vietnam War-era protest
culture. Politics drove the journalism of The Bird, but the
Atlanta music scene and pieces of stunning visual art featured
largely in the publication as well. The Atlanta counterculture
movement during The Bird's lifetime blurred the boundaries
between politics, music, and art; music and art expressed political
opinions, while political movements relied on musicians and artists
to convey ideas. The Great Speckled Bird represents this
synthesis of politics, music, and art within its pages, and also
retains its connection to the city of Atlanta and the culture of
the South. Even when addressing issues of national importance,
The Bird makes connections to Atlanta, emphasizing the
paper's role within the community. As a guidebook for new music,
groundbreaking artwork, protests and movement-related events, as
well as serving as a reliable news source, The Great Speckled
Bird gave progressive Atlantans and their counterculture
movement a voice.

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